It makes sense that the perfectly pleasant "Mary Mary" (10 tonight, We TV) would end up on the same channel as "The Braxtons Family Values" reality show.
After all, they are both about the lives of African-American sisters in entertainment, or as the "Mary Mary" tagline reads: fame, family and chaos.
But the sisters, Erica and Tina Campbell, in "Mary Mary" are not like the Braxtons. Oh sure, at the core, the Braxtons love each other. But man, it's hard to see underneath that thick layer of yelling, eye-rolling, dot.com'ing drama.
That's not true of the Campbells. They may have moments of dissent, but it never reaches the kind of no-holds bar battling of the Braxtons. That might be because, if you're unfamiliar, the Campbells, as Mary Mary, are building careers as contemporary gospel artists. They are in stable loving marriages too, with men who have jobs. (Take note, Braxtons.)
The show follows the sisters as they seek to balance their lives as Mary Mary with their lives as wives and mothers. Although they've gained fame, selling 5 million records, they are still in a smaller genre and building their careers. The thing is they keep having babies; Erica is seven months pregnant during this show's run. (As I write, Tina is having baby number five.) That makes for a full life, but a difficult balancing act.
If you're a fan but couldn't quite distinguish between the Marys, the show definitely defines them (Erica is more low key than Tina); you'll like them both. It also shows that being a Christian artist doesn't excuse one from the foibles of humankind, like pride, ego, jealousy.
"Mary Mary" was surely created to help build the Mary Mary brand. It does that and also explores the trials of every working woman struggling to have a good life, and a successful career.
Oh, and there's one quality the Campbells do share with the Braxtons: wigs. You'll enjoy the hair show too.
Assistant Features Editor Adrienne Johnson Martin would like to have her life turned into an animated cartoon.